St Ives is often described as the “Jewel in the Crown” of West Cornwall.  Formerly a Cornish fishing village, it is now a many-faceted holiday town with comfortable accommodation, a wide variety of restaurants and busy shops offering a large range of goods.

The historic area around the picturesque harbour is known as “Down’long” and has lots of narrow streets to explore.  St.Ives’ museum at Wheal Dream is a fascinating place to visit and has a room dedicated to St. Ives’own shipping line, the Hain Line which was eventually incorporated into P&O.

THE TATE OF THE WEST (TATE ST.IVES) gallery with its splendid rotunda is situated on Porthmeor Beach to the north of the town. The cafe on the top floor has great views, as has the rotunda itself. (Visit the Tate and Penwith Society galleries for the work of St.Ives School artists. If you want traditional "Plein Air" Newlyn School, head for Penlee House Gallery in Morrab Road, Penzance). The TATE is only 10 - 15 minutes' walk from Chy-an-Creet.

BARBARA HEPWORTH MUSEUM, on Barnoon Hill, is near the Tate. It is just off Fore Street and behind the Union Inn. Fore Street is the cobbled street running parallel with the Harbour. The famous sculptress's studio [now very tidy!] and sculpture garden are open in conjunction with TATE GALLERY. Special tours are available at some times for visitors with sight impairment. (10 - 15 minutes' walk from Chy-an-Creet).

The LEACH POTTERY - now a listed building on account of its association with master potter Bernard Leach, is just across the road from our hotel. It is still a worked by a pupil of the late master potter. Exhibitions and facilities are being upgraded and an appeal is under way to secure the pottery's future.

By the way, do try and take a trip on our beautiful little railway branch line at some point in your stay here. You can ride direct to Penzance or stop off at Lelant and walk back along the cliff path. Connections at St.Erth or Penzance facilitate journeys to and from the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond. St. Ives Station overlooks the golden sands of Porthminster Beach and St Ives Bay (one of "The Most Beautiful Bays in the World") so it must be one of the most spectacular places to wait for a train anywhere in the world.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD, AROUND ST.IVES BAY: But please take heed of lifeguards' advice - sea bathing can be dangerous.

PORTHMEOR (directions as for the TATE above) is the Blue-Flag surfing beach with beach huts, surf school, food, drink, ice cream, etc. Some great sunsets are enjoyed from here. There is only a small car park by the beach, so either walk down or follow the advice in the folder in your room at Chy-an-Creet.

PORTHGWIDDEN BEACH (Car Park on THE ISLAND) is tucked away between Porthmeor Beach and the Harbour. There is a good beach cafe here. To reach PORTHGWIDDEN by car you have to drive through the town and along Wharf Road.

Between Porthgwidden and the Harbour is Wheal Dream or Bamaluz beach.

THE HARBOUR beach is shared with the boats. If it were not, it would surely qualify for Blue Flag status but would lose its immense charm! The Harbour can be a sun trap for sunbathing, even sometimes in winter. Shops, pubs & conveniences, including the "superloo" in the Sloop Car Park, are nearby - as is the Sloop Craft Centre with woodcarver Guy Sutcliffe and friends [do call in and see them!]. The lifeboat house is near the 15^th century Parish Church (look for its ancient granite tower) by West Pier and the lifeboat is now launched directly from the new dedicated slipway opposite.

The great expanse of PORTHMINSTER BEACH is near the Harbour. Above the beach, the railway train arrives in town from St. Erth and Penzance. Beach huts, beach cafe & conveniences are all at the sands' edge. Level walk from and back to town is through The Warren and "Lambeth Walk", or make a diversion through St.Andrew's Street and call in to Longships Gallery to see Douglas Hill's vibrant "plein-air" beach paintings. His is only one of many galleries in town - look out for the West Cornwall Arts Guide.

CARBIS BAY BEACH is next towards Lelant after leaving St Ives. If driving, take a left just after the pedestrian traffic lights in Carbis Bay (or first left after St.Margaret's Hotel). Facilities include a Wimpy Bar but the beach is privately owned, so you usually have to pay a parking fee. (about 5 minutes' drive from Chy-an-Creet).

 LELANT BEACH, DUNES & GOLF COURSE - Drive through Carbis Bay then take the left turn after John Beck's Fish Restaurant. Drive carefully down the narrow lane to Lelant, park near the church and walk between the church and the churchyard onto the golf links (duck!) to the beach. Take your own drinks / food - there are no beach facilities but there's lots of space and sometimes lots of seashells. The sandy banks of the River Hayle shelve steeply and there are dangerous currents in the river at all times. Never bathe in or near the river. Around the corner, the Porthkidney beach is wide and flat, so enjoy but beware of the tide coming in quickly.

david@westcornwall.co.uk